We have to continue to get better at all phases of the game.”

Park head coach Evan Ziegler

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Park (4-7, 2-6) meets Mounds View/Irondale (8-3-1, 4-3-1) Thursday at the National Sports Center, then plays at White Bear Lake (4-8, 2-5) Tuesday before the Christmas break.

Park got a much-needed win, snapped a four-game losing streak, broke out the Wolfpack fight song in the winning locker room and nobody smiled brighter than rookie goalie Hailey Garcia when it was all said and done.

The Wolfpack took down visiting Forest Lake for the second time this season, winning 2-0 in a game at Cottage Grove Ice Arena which wasn’t decided until the final minutes.

“They played defense first,” said Park head coach Evan Ziegler. “We’ve been working really hard with trying to protect our goalie, protect the house in front of our goalie and just play solid team defense and we did that first tonight and that’s what got us the victory.

“We have to continue to get better at all phases of the game,” Ziegler added. “We’re improving as a team but as an overall whole we’ve had a lot of little mistakes and we’re cleaning that stuff up right now. And I feel as we get more confidence and how to play together as a group we’re going to get better as a team.”

Park took a 1-0 lead on a first-period goal by Stella Daly at 12:09 and that’s where the game stood until late in the third period. The Rangers threated to tie time after time, but Park sophomore Garcia hung tough in the net and the Wolfpack defense turned away each attempt by the Rangers.

“It was a good game,” said Garcia who was perfect in goal in her first varsity game for the Wolfpack, stopping all 33 shots she faced. “A lot of shots, and we played good and hard. … I think we’re all improving really because we all started off kind of slow at the beginning but we’re making progress throughout the season and just finding good and better players who are improving more.”

“We put her in a spot and she got us out of the spot,” said Ziegler. “I mean she just played outstanding. She took command of the net. She stood strong in tight spots and made the big saves when she needed to.”

Ava Taschner fired in the decisive second goal into an empty net at the 16:15 mark of the third period and Park skated home with the win.

“I think we used each other very nicely and I think we used our points and all of our players on the ice and it was a team win,” said Daly, who leads Park in scoring with 8 goals and 7 assists so far this season. “I think we need to keep working hard in practice, continuing to work together as a team and just be one whole group.”

Alaina Port and Addie Corkish had assists on Daly’s first-period goal.

The distribution of penalties was an interesting side note to the game. Park at one time was called for six straight infractions in the second and early third periods and faced numerous power plays. Then Forest Lake was called for four straight infractions in the third. Neither team managed to take advantage, however, Park was 0 for 4 in power plays, the Rangers 0 for 6.

East Ridge 4, Park 3

The Wolfpack lost a heartbreaker Tuesday, falling to Suburban East Conference rival East Ridge 4-3 at M Health Fairview Sports Center

East Ridge took a 1-0 lead after one period, but Park tied the game at two-all with two goals in the second. The Raptors then won the game with a 2-1 edge in the third period, scoring the game winner a 7:38.

Maleah McMorrow slammed in two goals and Addie Corkish one for the Wolfpack. Stella Daly had two assists, Ava Taschner and Corkish one each.

East Ridge outshot the Wolfpack 37-25. Park goalie Alayna Adamez stopped 33 of 37 shots for a .892 success rate.

Park (4-7, 2-6) meets Mounds View/Irondale (8-3-1, 4-3-1) Thursday at the National Sports Center, then plays at White Bear Lake (4-8, 2-5) Tuesday before the Christmas break.